The world number 9 is looking for a breakthrough at Roland Garros: “This situation is a new challenge, I want to continue to entertain”
Francesco Sessa
May 24 – 2.10pm – MILAN
The desire to have fun and entertain has no expiration date. You don’t feel the pressure, Hon Jabeur. The world number 9 is not having the season she would have dreamed of (six wins and nine defeats, with the quarter-finals in Madrid as her best result) yet she is calm, probably more than before. She is in Paris light-hearted, with a smile, she is charging for a Roland Garros where she doesn’t arrive with the spotlight on her, and perhaps it’s better this way: “I’m fine, thanks for asking me.” Her positive energy reaches everyone, her football challenge – raising the tennis ball by dribbling and then serving – also reached Carlos Alcaraz. In Paris she will make her debut as the new ambassador of Asics, she dedicates herself to the fans and works hard: yes, the second Slam could be the turning point.
What are your feelings for Roland Garros?
“I’m training very well, I did a good preparation after Rome: I feel I can do well on the pitch and that I can win matches.”
How do you rate your season so far?
“Obviously it wasn’t very good, but it’s understandable considering the injuries I’ve had. I’m working a lot off the field to be more patient and to learn to handle defeats better, I have to deal with what comes: I’ve never found myself in a situation like this, it’s a new challenge for me.”
When you enter the field do you bring some negative things with you, or do you feel free now?
“Honestly, it’s getting better and better. Considering the knee problem I’ve had to deal with, playing on a surface like clay can help me. The hope is that it gets better and better. I’m training exclusively on the pitch, I feel good.”
What does it tell us about his football talent?
“I’m a great fan, I have two brothers and I chose to have fun with football when I was little rather than playing with Barbies: I left my sister alone… It’s a hobby but I like it a lot, I love it like I love tennis. your favorite team? Real Madrid, but I like many teams… I also follow Italian football, I saw Inter’s celebrations for the scudetto.”
Talented in tennis, talented in football: but what is talent?
“I think it’s half a natural creative gift and half it depends on how you work: when I was young I always tried to play different sports, not just tennis. Also football, volleyball, handball: that’s probably why I developed the talent.”
How difficult is it to reconcile good play and results?
“It’s not always easy to accept the fact that you can win with a ‘bad’ game, but for me a ‘good game’ means having fun on the pitch and entertaining the fans.”
Last year he reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, meaning he will have several points to defend. Does it put pressure on you?
“I’m not thinking about this, I’m thinking one step at a time and what I want to do here in Paris. I hope my head and my body help me…”
Do you think you can still win a Slam?
“Of course, I always believe it: if I stopped believing it, I wouldn’t be here talking to you today.”
He won on all surfaces: but which is his favourite?
“I would say grass, there are few tournaments but I love playing and winning there. It’s extremely fun.”
What is your opinion on the new agreement between the WTA and PIF?
“I think it’s a great collaboration, it will open a lot of doors. It could help to have better programs for future generations and I think women’s tennis deserves better than what it has now. These are all new opportunities, I think in general in Saudi Arabia are making progress.”
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